VTuesday Shoesday

as you all know, i have been a bit of a gypsy as of late, so i apologize now and in advance for any sporadic blog posting that may occur over the next few weeks. i will make up for it in content, and, once september is upon us, we will return to regularly our scheduled postings - i promise! however in the meantime (and on a wednesday - whoops) i hope you enjoy these little wedges of patriotic heaven...they are simply perfect for this holiday weekend, which in my opinion is the best holiday around - wherever you spend it!

i stole them from my friend superburbs, but i don't think she'll mind, as she understands better than anyone my gypsy ways. plus, imitation is the greatest form of flattery, right?!

happy 4th to you all! xoxo

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weekend conundrum.

{image via love trains}

there are no words to describe how excited i am for this weekend. the reason being that it is one of the very few this summer where we have absolutely nothing on the books (ok, that's a lie - we do have an afternoon bbq on saturday - a celebration with some of my favorite fellow runners of this year's vcm about which i am very excited!)

there is just so much i want to do and i feel like i need to cram my entire summer to do list (yes, i have one) into two short days. aka - i am finding the lack of plans and abundance of free time a bit overwhelming. so, i think i need your help! what are you doing this weekend? if you had 48 hours of free time, how would you spend it? for you fellow vermonters - is there an event this weekend that we simply should not miss or a restaurant we must try?

help me. i'm a desperate woman and mr. frederickson thinks i am nuts. (can you blame him?!)

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have a sinful weekend!

i am off to nantucket this weekend (a very close 2nd place to my favorite place on earth) and am bringing along some of the best girls around - affectionately called the a-team. we are having a bachelorette extravaganza to celebrate the upcoming wedding of one of the most fabulous members. the weekend promises to be full of girls in white dresses, cheap champagne, yummy snacks, and some sinful pleasures...

but since i have been a slight scatter brain this week (see marathon coma) i thought i would share with you some of my favorites from around the web...

• the invites that simple design created for this fabulous event.
• i want to go on this picnic.
• these are ballet flat perfection.
• so mad that i missed this holiday, but will make up for it by drinking these!
• seb's summer to do list is right up my alley!
• loving this color combination.
• wishing i was in vt this weekend and could go see the cows on main street!

hope you all have a simply sinful weekend! XOXO

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june is...

june is a bride's best friend.

she is exuberant. and alive.

june throws the perfect graduation party.

she thinks emotionally. and rationally.

she knows how to wrap things up.

june believes that life is beautiful.

june's energy level can touch the sky.

june is very fond of dads.

she dances to celebrate life.

june holds exclusive rights to the summer solstice.

she is social. and at ease alone.

june sets a trend with white shoes.

her diary is always full of plans.

june loves recitals, receptions, and the pomp and circumstance of things.

she has a smile for everyone.

june is always ready for summer.

{calendar via etsy & who is june courtesy of a 2006 KOCO NY calendar}

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wine wednesdays - simply sinful.

i am soo excited! this weekend i get to host a little get together for my favorite girls, all in celebration of the most angelic bride to be. the theme this weekend is all about the seven deadly sins (see the invitation here)

obviously wine is an important part of this occassion, so one of the weekend's featured wines will be the 7 deadly zins. get it? sins/zins? zinfandel. (again, i'm easily amused) and i may or may not have my bags packed with several bottles of this varietal. also, i am not so secretly hoping that our residence mix master - of b.o.p. fame -will be able to use it to concoct some sinful sangria....

eeek! is it friday yet?!?

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marathon coma.

there is just so much to share with you all today. and i promise there will be many posts over the the next few days highlighting what was an absolutely wonderful birthday/marathon weekend! i am still in a bit of a haze and it's taking me longer than usual to process things...so bear with me. i'll be back soon, and promise it will be worth waiting for. afterall, it's june! and what's better than that?

i just have to share this photo of mr frederickson and i running up church street (somehow we always seem to get caught by the sneaky newspaper photographers) at mile 3 of the 2010 vermont city marathon. not only is he a fantastic running partner, he is also the best birthday celebrator/event co-host ever. i am a very lucky girl.

XOXO

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happy weekend, happy summer!

according to margot harrison, associate editor of seven days, "memorial day weekend is a time to honor fallen soldiers, throw burgers on the barbie and vow to run the marathon next year."

so true. so very true. plus, if you live in new england, it is also the official start of summer - and there is nothing more promising and hopeful than that.

so whether you are running, grilling, honoring or all of the above - i wish you all a wonderful holiday weekend! and a great big cheers to all the summery days ahead. enjoy!

XOXO

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party planning perfection.

have i mentioned that i love this time of year? why? well, because there are just so many reasons to celebrate - birthdays, weddings, long weekends, and graduations (just to name a few) and since i am in the party spirit today, i have to share with you this eco-fabulous grad party thrown just down the road in shelburne, vt by the party planning pros at martha stewart living. (oh i wish i had known! i soo would have crashed it!)

the details:

• the event: a graduation party for a recent university of vermont graduate - whose mom happens to be the editorial food director at martha stewart living. lucky him (and lucky us!)
• the venue: the coach barn at shelburne farms
• the theme: "sustaining family through education, connection, community, and, of course, food." oh how i love a good theme!
• the food: all local - including cheeses from shelburne farms and vermont butter & cheese creamery, meats from vermont smoke and cure, and local pickled vegetables. burgers were made from misty knoll farms turkey and grass-fed shelburne farms beef (served in recyclable paper bags rubber-stamped with various vermont motifs.) and dessert was island homemade ice cream.
• the drinks: colorful cocktails from vermont spirits maple vodka and boyden valley rhubarb wine. and magic hat beer (obviously)
• the photo shoot background: a map of vermont, on, what else, but a chalk board.
• the favors: popcorn. maple spiced kettle corn served in vermont branded paper bags.
• the result: party planning perfection.

{go here for the whole story - plus more photos, recipes and party planning tips}

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summer days.

with memorial day just around the corner, i've been thinking a lot about what i want my summer to be like. i am trying to plan ahead a bit, so that my very favorite season doesn't slip away too quickly, without me noticing, although, no matter how hard i try, it ALWAYS seems to.

and in my pondering and cyber searching, i came across these photos, taken from a rehearsal dinner bbq here in vermont, and to me, they are just so quintessential summer...picnic tables, swimming holes, mason jars, mosquitos (i know, you can't see them, but c'mon, you know they are there)

so, these 4 photos are exactly what i want my summer to look like. i think they pretty much sum it up. but, what about you? what will your summer look like?

{party scenes courtesy of cup of jo}

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top ten tuesdays - waterfront dining

when you hear the words "water front dining" you probably don't think about restaurants in vermont. but alas, you're wrong. i took the lead from the recent issue of yankee magazine with their recommendations on the best spots to enjoy a meal lake (or river, or creek, or brook side) because in my opinion, food tastes better when served with water view...whether or not there is salt in the air.

top ten waterfront restaurants...

1. simon pearce, quechee - by now you know how i feel about this place. a little piece of riverside heaven.
2. hen of the wood, waterbury - the menu changes daily to highlight fresh, local ingredients, but the view of thatcher brook remains a constant delight.
3. lake morey resort, fairlee - a family getaway that comes to life in the summer months. dinner is served nightly at water's edge.
4. tully and marie's, middlebury - hands down winner for the best pad thai, bloody mary and breakfast burrito. the view of otter creek isn't bad either.
5. the north end hero house, north hero - you can dine on the patio, the porch, the greenhouse, or the main dinning room...all with water views. perfect for a weekend visit - breakfast, lunch & dinner.
6. the inn at shelburne farms, shelburne - everyone needs to have brunch here at some point in their lifetime. it's that good.
7. splash at the boathouse, burlington - drinks served on a floating dock on lake champlain? heaven. the countdown is on for opening day on may 15th.
8. west river marina, brattleboro - burgers, fries and a famous sunset. plus, they have an event every summer called marinafest. sign me up.
9. storm cafe, middlebury - the penne carbonara and the view from the patio overlooking otter creek might just change your life.
10. breakwaters, burlington - it's not summer without a trip to breakwaters. best sunset in town, or the state for that matter. the people watching is pretty darn good too.

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picnic inspiration.

today was a happy day in blog land for lots of reasons - it's friday, the sun is shining (seemingly everywhere!) and warm may days are just around the corner. and with all these happy circumstances, came lots of happy blog posting, including quite a few about a fantastic summer tradition - the picnic.

so, needless to say, i had to hop on board the picnic trend. with april showers on the outs, and nothing but may flowers ahead, i totally see where my blog friends are coming from and i for one am totally on board.

one of said friends (ok, i think we are friends, she might not know that yet) at cup of jo came up with the idea of a summer picnic club and i really think she is on to something. her concept:
inviting friends to meet at different locations every other weekend, bringing their own blankets, some snacks to share and some games to play. sounds pretty doable, don't you think?
and luckily for us here in vermont, there are dozens of great picnic spots all across the state. so if this idea alone doesn't make you think happy summer thoughts, see below for a little more inspiration...oh the fun we could have...

happy weekend!

(images via whole living / ruffled / vermont brownie company / hostess with the mostess / the kitchn / hey hot shot / flickr / oh hello friend)

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top ten tuesdays - may to dos.

it is a dreary dreary afternoon here in vermont, and i am pulling out all the stops to try and brighten my day. my mood this morning was lifted thanks to kate spade's lovely polka dots, but this afternoon required me to take some extreme measures...yes, that's right, friends. it's to do list time.

you all know that nothing makes me happier than a good list, especially when it is filled with so much anticipation and excitement about all that lies ahead in the wonderful (and celebratory) month of may!

may to dos...

1. run the dandelion half marathon in derby, vermont. how can you NOT want to participate in an event named after - and in support of - the cutest weed there is?
2. indulge in a little vermont restaurant week gluttony. soo many yummy choices. how is a girl to choose?
3. shop the simon pearce tent sale for wedding gifts for all the brides to be in my life. (it's not posted yet, but it will be soon. and trust me, it's worth the research!)
4. experience the water & wine tour at boyden valley winery. a canoe trip down the lamoille river followed by a tasting and a tour. yes, please.
5. two words - farmers. markets. (opening day in burlington is may 8th)
6. take a ferry ride across lake champlain. just 'cause it sounds like fun.
7. enjoy the view (and the yummy drinks) at splash & breakwaters.
8. go to the sunset drive in.
9. enjoy every painful second of the vermont city marathon with the rest of the american cancer society runners! i love you all (-:
10. say good bye to 27 and welcome the big 2-8 with open arms. i think it's going to be a very good year.

alright, folks, there you have it - my may to dos. what am i missing? what's on your to do list?

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wine wednesdays

alright friends, please mark your calendars for saturday june 26th for the first annual burlington wine & food festival. that's right - a wine festival right here in vermont! what could be better!? this just might be the best thing to happen to wine wednesdays, since, well, since the invention of wine wednesdays!

this wine extravaganza is replacing the much loved green mountain chew festival that expired last year after 24 seasons as the waterfront festival of choice for the month of june (may has the vermont marathon, july has brewfest)

so, how does it work, you ask? well, it's simple - for $40 a head, you will get a wine glass and 15 swigs from any of the 350 showcase winess, a voucher for one food item from a featured restaurant (so far l'amante, miguel’s on main, the belted cow bistro, trattoria delia and souza's have signed on) and unlimited artisan bread and vermont cheese, all while strolling the beautiful waterfront park.

i'm sold!! who's with me?

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wine wednesday.

as i admitted last week, i know very little about wine. and since my catholic guilt forced me to go for a run rather than go wine tasting on tuesday - i unfortunately bring no additional knowledge to the table this week.

but, what i do know about my beverage of choice, is that i love a clever label, and this refreshing and sarcastic wine from boyden valley winery really got my goat (or cow in this case. haha. get it?!?!)

according to those who know, "this white table wine is fruity and semi-dry like a riesling. it is a delightful summer wine, and makes a fantastic sangria! cowtipper’s hints of apricot and pear go deliciously with chicken and seafood, grilled tuna being a favorite."

happy wine wednesday! sangria anyone..?

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